Hospitality
Does an RSA or RSG Certificate Expire in Queensland?
An RSA or RSG Statement of Attainment does not expire in Queensland, provided it was completed after 2002, though new staff still have a set window to get certified.
Reviewed for practical accuracy
Prepared by EDB Training Services, a nationally recognised Registered Training Organisation in Capalaba, Brisbane (RTO 32376).
If you’re starting a job behind a bar, on the gaming floor, or anywhere alcohol changes hands, someone will ask if your RSA is current. It’s a fair question, but “current” doesn’t mean what it does for a forklift licence or an EWP ticket. Queensland treats RSA and RSG differently to those, and it’s worth knowing exactly how.
Does an RSA or RSG certificate expire?
No. Once you hold a valid Statement of Attainment for SITHFAB021 (Provide responsible service of alcohol) or SITHGAM022 (Provide responsible gambling services), it remains valid indefinitely under Queensland law. The only exception is training completed before 2002, which is no longer recognised and needs to be redone.
How soon do you need one after starting work?
That’s where RSA and RSG actually differ. Under the Liquor Act 1992 (Qld), you must complete RSA training within 30 days of starting a role that involves serving or supplying alcohol. For RSG, staff carrying out gaming duties at a licensed club or hotel have a longer window: training must be completed within three months of starting.
Who actually needs to hold one?
Most staff who serve or supply alcohol on licensed premises need an RSA, including:
- Bartenders and floor staff
- Room service and function staff
- Anyone under 18 working in a licensed venue (there’s no minimum age to hold an RSA in Queensland)
Two groups are the exception: licensees and approved managers already holding a current RMLV, and supervised volunteers at community organisations working directly under someone with current RSA training. RSG follows the same logic for anyone performing gaming duties, such as running gaming machines or handling wagers.
Why do some venues still ask for a recent refresher?
Licensees carry the compliance risk, not just the individual staff member. The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation can penalise a licensee whose staff aren’t properly certified, so some venues set their own policy of refreshing RSA or RSG knowledge periodically, even though nothing in the legislation requires it. Short refresher courses exist for exactly this. They’re a venue’s choice, not a renewal you’re legally required to sit.
Is that different from other Queensland tickets?
Yes, and it trips people up. A forklift licence or an EWP ticket over 11 metres is a High Risk Work Licence, issued by WorkSafe Queensland, and those genuinely expire every five years. RSA and RSG are Statements of Attainment for a unit of competency, the same category as a Working at Heights ticket or a White Card, and none of those come with a WorkSafe-style renewal cycle attached.
If you’re not sure whether your current RSA or RSG still counts, or you need both before starting a new role, our trainers can get you sorted in a single day.
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